You are here

Document Search

Background: The 2017-2018 Drought in the Southwest

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor’s drought severity designations, “Abnormally Dry” conditions crept into the Southwest region in October 2017 and deepened into widespread “Moderate Drought” in November 2017. The region was in “Severe Drought” by January 2018; “Extreme Drought” by March 2018; and “Exceptional Drought” by May 2018. The “Exceptional Drought” lingered in the region until January 2019. In 2018, the region experienced more than 45 weeks in drought.

Current Drought Conditions

The 2019 Water Year (starting Oct. 1, 2018) was off to a dry start in California-Nevada, but a wet winter has improved drought conditions. For the first time since December 20, 2011, California is drought free as of mid-March according to the U.S. Drought Monitor with less than 7% of the state remaining abnormally dry (D0). Similarly Nevada is drought free as of the end of March with ~10% of the state remaining abnormally dry (D0).

Regional Climate Update

While the 2019 Water Year started dry and warm, as of the end of March,...

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Midwest Region for December 2018 – February 2019. Dated March 2019.

Winter temperatures for the 3-month period of December to February ranged from a few degrees below normal in the northwest to a few degrees above normal in the southeast. Precipitation was well above normal in the Midwest, ranking as the third wettest winter back to 1895.

NOAA’s Regional Climate Services Program created these Climate Outlooks to inform the public about recent climate impacts within their respective regions. Each regional report contains...

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Great Lakes Region for December 2018 – February 2019. Dated March 2019.

Winter temperatures ranged from 2°C (4°F) below normal in the Superior basin to 2°C (4°F) above normal in the Erie basin. Winter precipitation ranged from 91% to 101% of normal.

NOAA’s Regional Climate Services Program created these Climate Outlooks to inform the public about recent climate impacts within their respective regions. Each regional report contains easy-to-understand language, and anyone can access them through the Drought Portal at ...

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for Alaska and Northwestern Canada for December 2018 – February 2019; outlook for April – June 2019. Dated March 2019.

Most of Alaska, northern Yukon and the northwestern portion of the Northwest Territories (NT) were significantly warmer than normal during this past winter, with some areas in western Alaska near record warmth. In contrast, much of British Columbia and southwest NT were significantly cooler than normal. In between, there was a narrow area where temperatures averaged near normal. Precipitation totals this past winter were...

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Southeast Region for December 2018 – February 2019. Dated March 2019.

The Southeast experienced its 9th warmest winter on record. While daytime maximum temperatures were near normal for most of the region, nighttime minimum temperatures were much above normal; in fact every state in the region was ranked in the top tenth warmest minimum temperatures for 1895-2018. This was due in part to plumes of moisture streaming northward from the Gulf of Mexico, producing many clouds and much rainfall (4th wettest winter on...

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Northeast Region for December 2018 – February 2019. Dated March 2019.

Winter averaged out to be 0.9°F above normal, with ten of the Northeast's twelve states being warmer than normal. The Northeast received 128% of normal precipitation during winter. All states were wetter than normal, with two ranking this winter among their ten wettest.

NOAA’s Regional Climate Services Program created these Climate Outlooks to inform the public about recent climate impacts within their respective regions. Each regional report contains...

NOAA’s Regional Climate Services Program created these Climate Outlooks to inform the public about recent climate impacts within their respective regions. Each regional report contains easy-to-understand language, and...

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Western Region for December 2018 – February 2019. Dated March 2019.

Persistent stormy conditions helped to maintain near-to-below normal temperatures across much of the West this winter. Abundant precipitation and moderate temperatures helped alleviate drought conditions in large areas of the West.

NOAA’s Regional Climate Services Program created these Climate Outlooks to inform the public about recent climate impacts within their respective regions. Each regional report contains easy-to-understand language, and anyone...

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Southern Region for December 2018 – February 2019. Dated March 2019.

Winter temperatures exhibited a west-to-east pattern across the region in general, with above normal temperatures in the east and normal to slightly below normal temperatures in the western states. Winter precipitation also exhibited a west-to-east pattern, with drier than normal conditions in the west and wetter than normal conditions in the east.

NOAA’s Regional Climate Services Program created these Climate Outlooks to inform the public about recent...

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Missouri River Basin December 2018 – February 2019. Dated March 2019.

With a warm start and a cold end, average temperatures for the winter were only slightly below normal across the Missouri River Basin. Persistent cold, along with frequent snowstorms during the latter half of winter, allowed the snowpack to build across the Plains.

NOAA’s Regional Climate Services Program created these Climate Outlooks to inform the public about recent climate impacts within their respective regions. Each regional report contains easy-to...

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for Hawaii and the U.S. Pacific Islands Region for November 2018 – February 2019. Dated March 2019.

Includes significant events, regional climate overview, and sectoral impacts for November 2018 – February 2019; regional outlook for March – May 2019.

NOAA’s Regional Climate Services Program created these Climate Outlooks to inform the public about recent climate impacts within their respective regions. Each regional report contains easy-to-understand language, and anyone can access them through the Drought Portal at ...

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Missouri River Basin September – November 2018. Dated December 2018.

Overall, it was a cool autumn across the Missouri River Basin, with widespread temperature departures in the 2-6°F below-normal range. While precipitation varied across the region, it was a particularly wet autumn for an area extending from eastern New Mexico through Wisconsin.

NOAA’s Regional Climate Services Program created these Climate Outlooks to inform the public about recent climate impacts within their respective regions. Each regional report...

Quarterly Climate Impacts and Outlook for the Midwest Region for September – November 2018. Dated December 2018.

Fall began with a warm September (15th warmest for the Midwest and record warm in Ohio since 1895) with the warmth continuing through early October for the southeastern two thirds of the Midwest. Precipitation was particularly abundant from Iowa to Wisconsin and in the Ohio River Valley.

NOAA’s Regional Climate Services Program created these Climate Outlooks to inform the public about recent climate impacts within their respective regions. Each regional...

NIDIS Drought Early Warning Systems (DEWS)

National Drought Mitigation Center
The National Drought Mitigation Center works closely with NIDIS to provide drought-related resources and information. For more news and impacts information, visit the NDMC.

USDA Federal Drought Assistance
For information on resources available to help aid in the recovery from this year’s drought, visit the USDA.

The National Drought Resilience Partnership (NDRP) comprises seven federal agencies which work collaboratively to support state, tribal, local, and private sector approaches to managing drought risks and impacts. Learn More